Wokingham council buys former Marks & Spencer unit

The dormant Marks and Spencer and car park in Wokingham has been snapped up at the expense of the taxpayer as bosses look to ensure it “complements our wider regeneration plans”.

Wokingham Borough Council has taken ownership of the former home of M&S in Peach Street following its closure in July.

The council has also taken over the management of the unit’s car park, which it will use to provide short stay parking.

Councillor Stuart Munro, executive member for business and economic development and regeneration, said: “When Marks and Spencer announced they were to close their Wokingham store in July as part of a national shift away from units of this type, the council made a decision to investigate purchasing the property.

"It’s an important site for the town centre as it faces onto Peach Street and Rose Street and is adjacent to the council’s Peach Place development.

“We will now evaluate opportunities this sites opens up.

"For us it’s important that the site is managed carefully to ensure it remains part of the town centre retail circuit and complements our wider regeneration plans to create the kind of destination town that will bring people in to shop and enjoy themselves, and offer something different from our larger neighbours in Bracknell and Reading.”

The car park will now be included in the scheme which provides free parking on the weekends running up to Christmas from Saturday, December 9.

It will also be part of the Free after Three scheme which runs until the end of January to help support local retailers.

The retail giant decided to close the shop in June and most of its staff have transferred to the new store in Bracknell’s Lexicon shopping centre, which opened in July.